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Salem's Lot is my favorite King book, and one of my favorite novels, period. There is one part of it that has confused me for the longest time, and I'm hoping it can be answered here: Who attacks Ralphie Glick and when?

The Glick boys never make it to Mark's house. Ralphie vanishes (taken by Straker). Danny Glick stumbles back to his parents some time after that. Now, was he bitten by Barlow in the woods shortly after Ralphie was grabbed?

Here's why I'm confused: At that point in the novel, those two workmen had yet to pick up that large crate from the dock. I'm assuming that Barlow was in there.

If that's the case, how can Barlow have attacked Danny when he's in that Crate?

The only explanation I can think of is it was Barlow's coffin (among other evil possessions) in that crate, and Barlow was already holed up in the Marsten House, allowing him to roam and bite.

Or, Danny wasn't bitten in the woods. Maybe Straker clocked him and confused him, and he was later visited by Barlow in his room after the crate was delivered. (The movies indicate that Ralphie visited his brother, but there's no indication of that happening in the book.)

I'm actually reading the book NOW. The events of the novel occur over just 20 days - between September 16 and October 6. Yet, within those not-quite three weeks, the town becomes overrun with vampires. It's mentioned that in the book that on the morning of the 5th day of searching for Ralphie, Danny collapses in the middle of the night and is admitted to the hospital. The hospital admittance form lists September 23. So that confirms that the boys were attacked and Ralphie was killed on 9/18.

So...

1. September 18 - Straker attacks Danny and Ralphie Glick in the woods. Later that night, Straker sacrifices Ralphie to "The Lord of the Flies" Ralphie in the Harmony Hill Cemetery. This prepares the way for Barlow's arrival in Salem's Lot.
2. September 22. - Straker tells Crockett to pick up the "sideboard" at the docks. Hank Peters and Royal Snow pick it up at the Portland docks at 7 PM. They both make comments about how heavy it is and how something seems to be shifting in side. It's Barlow's coffin with Barlow in it. Both men have a heightened and growing sense of fear and dread over this errand and it's because they unconsciously sense Barlow's presence in the truck. This is right out Dracula and Murnau's Nosferatu where the vampire is transported via ship in his coffin.
3. On the night of September 23 - Early morning September 24 Danny is bitten and killed by Barlow shortly before 1:00 A.M. on September 24.

The idiot is IN

I'm actually reading the book NOW. The events of the novel occur over just 20 days - between September 16 and October 6. Yet, within those not-quite three weeks, the town becomes overrun with vampires. It's mentioned that in the book that on the morning of the 5th day of searching for Ralphie, Danny collapses in the middle of the night and is admitted to the hospital. The hospital admittance form lists September 23. So that confirms that the boys were attacked and Ralphie was killed on 9/18.

So...

1. September 18 - Straker attacks Danny and Ralphie Glick in the woods. Later that night, Straker sacrifices Ralphie to "The Lord of the Flies" Ralphie in the Harmony Hill Cemetery. This prepares the way for Barlow's arrival in Salem's Lot.
2. September 22. - Straker tells Crockett to pick up the "sideboard" at the docks. Hank Peters and Royal Snow pick it up at the Portland docks at 7 PM. They both make comments about how heavy it is and how something seems to be shifting in side. It's Barlow's coffin with Barlow in it. Both men have a heightened and growing sense of fear and dread over this errand and it's because they unconsciously sense Barlow's presence in the truck. This is right out Dracula and Murnau's Nosferatu where the vampire is transported via ship in his coffin.
3. On the night of September 23 - Early morning September 24 Danny is bitten and killed by Barlow shortly before 1:00 A.M. on September 24.

Well-Known Member

Barlow was in the crate, Straker had to preform certain rituals before he could come. He may have bled Danny as a way to mark him for Barlow when he first comes but whatever happened in those woods was not a vampire strike.